Richard Sherman gave a eye-opening explanation for why NFL players don't care about your fantasy football team

Richard Sherman is one of the NFL's most intense and emotional competitors, but don't expect him to shed any tears over your latest fantasy setback.

The Seattle Seahawks cornerback took aim at fantasy football on Sunday night, saying the popular pastime causes fans to view players more as commodities than people. He aired his grievances in no uncertain terms, stating that players "don't care about your fantasy team."

"I think a lot of people, a lot of fans out there have looked at players even less like people because of fantasy football and things like that," Sherman said, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. "You go and say, 'Oh man, this guy got hurt.' You're not thinking, 'Hey man, this guy got hurt — he's really physically hurt and he's going to take time to recover and it's probably going to affect his mental state and his physical state and now he has a long, rigorous rehab.' You're thinking, 'Oh, man, he's messing up my fantasy team.'"

Sherman must feel strongly about the effects of fantasy football on NFL fans, as his complaints weren't even in response to a question about fantasy. He had been asked about rookie running back Chris Carson, who suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's 46-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

While there is no timetable for Carson's return, head coach Pete Carroll said the seventh-rounder out of Oklahoma State had hurt his ankle "significantly."

"It's terrible when you see things like that because we know these guys personally," Sherman said. "A lot of times the fans know us from the surface and wear 32 [Carson's number] and he's running the ball and he's doing great for my team, but they don't think about the effects that an injury will have to a guy's mental capacity and what his family and what his mom and girlfriend and wife might be going through."

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Richard Sherman through his career

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks argues a penalty during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Seahawks 33-27. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 18: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks points while at the line of scrimmage during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 18, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Seahawks 24-0. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 12: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks discusses a call with field judge Jim quirk during a game against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field December 12, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won 33-13. (Photo by Jay Drowns/Getty Images)

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during a NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on November 25, 2012 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA. - DECEMBER 23: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a tackle during the fourth quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on December 23, 2012 in Seattle,Wa. The Seahawks won the game 42-13. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 13: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks gestures to the crowd against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Georgia Dome on January 13, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the Seahawks 30-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks returns an interception against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 28, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 08: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks shows emotion during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

JERSEY CITY, NJ - JANUARY 26: Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks addresses the media at the Westin Hotel on January 26, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - FEBRUARY 02: cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with teammate cornerback Walter Thurmond #28 during Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seattle Seahawks won 43-8. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 16: NFL player Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks accepts the Best Breakthrough Athlete award onstage during the 2014 ESPYS at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 04: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks lines up on defense against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field on September 4, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 26: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after the game against the Carolina Panthers on October 26, 2014 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 21: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to the start of the preaseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 21, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 20: Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks (R) poses for a photo with a fan in celebration of American Express Blue Friday with Card Members at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room on November 20, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for American Express)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 6: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks signs autographs for fans after a win of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 6, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 38-7. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30: Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman (L) challenges Hike the Gamer (R) in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 with Typical Gamer (C) on April 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Activision)

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 11: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks against the Miami Dolphins at CenturyLink Field on September 11, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 30: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 30, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 15: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks almost intercepts a pass by the Los Angeles Rams at CenturyLink Field on December 15, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 29: Richard Sherman #25 of the NFC warms up prior to the NFL Pro Bowl at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on January 29, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks argues a penalty during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Seahawks 33-27. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 1: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts on the sidelines in the third quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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While Sherman's explanation for the players' indifference may have been eye-opening, it isn't a popular view among fans and league officials. Fantasy football has become a significant subset of NFL fandom, as well as a major source of revenue. The Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimates that a record 59.3 million people in North America have played fantasy sports in 2017, with an average of $46 per person spent on extras like paid leagues and premium advice websites.

But as popular as fantasy football is, the players on the field have bigger things to worry about. Sherman and the Seahawks will see their next action this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.